Modestep’s Josh Friend described his “weird” experience of touring with Lostprophets before disgraced paedophile frontman Ian Watkins was jailed. It comes after the singer was killed
Rory Gannon Showbiz Journalist
15:11, 07 Nov 2025Updated 15:40, 07 Nov 2025
Disgraced paedophile Ian Watkins died after being stabbed in prison in October 2025(Image: AP)
A musician who toured with Lostprophets has opened up about his “weird” experience working with disgraced singer Ian Watkins.
Josh Friend, whose band Modestep supported the Welsh rockers in 2011, was speaking after vile paedophile Watkins was killed in prison last month while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offences.
Speaking to Andrew Gold in an interview broadcast on the Heretics YouTube channel, Josh said he found Ian’s behaviour odd, but assumed it was just the usual egocentric rockstar stuff.
According to Josh, the tour was unlike any he’s been on since, with a notable lack of camaraderie, and even a level of coldness from Watkins and his bandmates.
Josh said: “I think they were struggling to sell tickets. This was in like 2011, and that was our peak, so we had just dropped a song that was on the A-list on BBC Radio 1 and it was clear we would be able to sell them a lot more tickets on the tour, so we were contacted.”
Josh Friend, of Modestep, said there was a “weird atmosphere” while touring with Ian Watkins(Image: @andrewgoldheretics/Youtube)
The tour was a great chance for Modestep to boost their profile. But as the tour got under way, Josh noticed unusual behaviour from Ian. One thing in particular that struck him was Watkins’ self-isolation. He said: “Even from the first soundcheck, things were just a bit off. Since then, I’ve done a lot more touring and you always try to treat people like family and make it fun for everyone, but it was clear that there was tension in the air amongst everyone.” Oddly, Josh said Watkins was never present at soundchecks, leaving the rest of his band to prepare for the show.
Ian Watkins isolated himself on a tour with his band, according to another musician(Image: WireImage)
He also said the other Lostprophets members were “not friendly” and that there was a “weird atmosphere from the get go”. At the time he put the frostiness down to rivalry stemming from the headline act’s fears Modestep could upstage them.
However, when Watkins’ depraved acts later came to light, he realised the band “probably had a lot more to deal with”.
Quizzed further on Watkins’ behaviour, Josh said the singer was rarely seen with the rest of the group. Instead he was “chauffeured around by the tour manager”. Josh said he had just one interaction with Watkins over the course of the six-week tour.
Ian Watkins was killed in his cell while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex offiences(Image: SOUTH WALES POLICE/AFP via Getty)
At some point in the tour, Josh said Watkins’ voice had to be added to a backing track, due to him not being able to sing.
He said Watkins’ behaviour was erratic and “you could tell his mind was elsewhere”. Watkins, 48, died after being stabbed in the neck at HMP Wakefield, also known as Monster Mansion, last month.
The disgraced paedo rock star was stabbed in the neck in prison, an inquest has heard. Lostprophets were disbanded after the paedophile singer from Pontypridd was convicted in December 2013 of a string of child sex offences, including the attempted rape of a baby.
Watkins was sentenced to 29 years in prison with a further six years on licence, and his two female co-defendants were jailed for 14 and 17 years.